Randomized Controlled Trial: Does the Use of Occlusive Hydrocolloid Silver-Containing Wound Dressing after Sternotomy Reduce Surgical Site Infection after Cardiac Surgery?

(1) Background: To reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) following median sternotomy in cardiac surgery, we compared an occlusive hydrocolloid silver-containing wound dressing (OHSCWD) with a standard wound dressing. (2) Methods: This study was designed as a single-center randomized controlled trial. The primary endpoint was the overall rate of incidence of any kind of SSI.

Surgery for Infective Endocarditis after Primary Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Replacement-A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis.

Unlabelled: Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly being used for the treatment of aortic-valve stenosis. Therefore, the total number of patients with an aortic-valve prosthesis is increasing, causing the incidence of prosthetic-valve endocarditis to increase.

Methods: Between March 2016 and July 2019, ten patients underwent surgery due to prosthetic-valve endocarditis after TAVR.

Effects of feeding corn containing an alpha-amylase gene on the performance and digestibility of growing cattle.

Two growth performance studies and two digestibility trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding Enogen Feed Corn silage and corn grain to growing cattle. In Exp. 1, there were a total of four diets offered for ad libitum intake.

Training Cardiac Surgeons: Safety and Requirements.

To analyze whether cardiac surgical residents can perform their first surgeries without compromising patients' safety or outcomes, by comparing their performance and results to those of senior surgeons. All documented CABGs conducted between 2002 and 2020 were included. Surgeries were divided according to the experience level of the main surgeon (defined by the number of CABG conducted by him/her) using the following thresholds: 1000; 150; 80 and 35.

Negative effect of high-level infrasound on human myocardial contractility: In-vitro controlled experiment.

Background: Human exposure to infrasound is increasing due to man-made factors, such as occupational conditions, wind farms and transportation. The concern among the public regarding the safety of infrasound exposure is growing.

Aims: To evaluate whether exposure to infrasound interferes directly with human cardiac function and contributes to pathological processes.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting via a lower ministernotomy for left anterior descending artery myocardial bridging: mid-term results.

Objectives: Coronary artery bypass grafting or supra-arterial myotomy is now suggested as a better therapeutic option in myocardial bridging (MB) when medical treatment fails to control symptoms. For left anterior descending (LAD) MB, minimally invasive coronary artery bypass via a lower ministernotomy can be offered.

Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients who underwent elective minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery from 2005 to 2014 via an inferior sternotomy using the left internal mammary artery as a bypass graft for LAD MB were evaluated retrospectively.

Ovine Biosynthetic Grafts for Aortoiliac Reconstructions in Nonsterile Operative Fields.

Background: Prosthetic vascular grafts placed surgically or via endovascular techniques can be subject to the risk of life-threatening graft infections. The Omniflow II vascular prosthesis is a biosynthetic graft that was reported to have favorable properties in resisting infections.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our 3 years' experience of using the Omniflow II prostheses for aortoiliac reconstructions in patients considered to carry a substantial risk of subsequent prosthetic graft infections (prevention group) as well as in patients with actively infected prosthetic vascular grafts (treatment group).

Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses.

The effect of hay type on the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract is relatively unexplored. Our objective was to characterize the cecal and fecal microbiome of mature horses consuming alfalfa or Smooth Bromegrass (brome) hay. Six cecally cannulated horses were used in a split-plot design run as a crossover in two periods.

Caecal fermentation characteristics of commonly used feed ingredients.

Background: Commercial horse feeds use cereal grains and by-products; however, their effects on the caecal environment remain poorly characterised.

Objective: Characterise the effect of commonly used feed ingredients on caecal pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration.

Study Design: 6 × 6 Latin square.

Direct true lumen cannulation in type A acute aortic dissection: A review of an 11 years' experience.

Objectives: Direct true lumen cannulation (DTLC) of the aorta is an alternative cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation technique in the context of type A acute aortic dissection (A-AAD). DTLC has been reported to be effective in restoring adequate perfusion to jeopardized organs. This study reports and compares operative outcomes with DTLC or alternative cannulation techniques in a large cohort of patients with A-AAD.

Effects of corn distillers dried grains with solubles in finishing diets on pig growth performance and carcass yield with two different marketing strategies.

Feeding diets high in corn distillers dried grains with solubles () before market can negatively impact carcass yield, hot carcass weight (), and belly fat iodine value (). Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of switching from DDGS-based to corn-soybean meal ()-based diets at increasing intervals (withdrawal periods) before harvest on finishing pig performance and carcass characteristics. Diets in both experiments contained either 0% or 30% DDGS and were balanced for net energy ().

Digestibility of diets containing calcium salts of fatty acids or soybean oil in horses.

Calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFAs) frequently are fed to ruminants, but their fate in the equine digestive system is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare Enertia s/f, a proprietary CSFAs, and soybean (SB) oil with respect to impact on apparent total tract nutrient digestion and cecal fermentation parameters in horses. Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a crossover design in which horses consumed a diet for 32 d consisting of 1.

Body Mass Index (BMI) and Its Influence on the Cardiovascular and Operative Risk Profile in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients: Impact of Inflammation and Leptin.

Background: Obesity is related to coronary artery disease (CAD) and worse outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. Adipose tissue itself is an endocrine organ that secretes many humoral mediators, such as adipokines, which can induce or reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

Objectives: We investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI), inflammation, and oxidative stress by measuring serum levels of leptin, interleukin-6, and 3-nitrotyrosine in CABG patients and correlate their levels to the cardiovascular and operative risk profiles.

Non-Pharmacologic Multicomponent Interventions Preventing Delirium in Hospitalized People.

Background/objectives: Delirium is a common neurobehavioral complication in hospitalized patients with a high prevalence in various clinical settings. Prevention of delirium is critical due to its common occurrence and associated poor outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of multicomponent interventions in preventing incident delirium in hospitalized patients at risk.

T-shaped Transseptal Approach for Mitral Valve Surgery.

We present a T-shaped transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery that makes adequate exposure possible under challenging anatomic and surgical circumstances, hence eliminating the need for forceful retraction on potentially fragile tissues. Particularly suited for patients with complex mitral pathology, it also facilitates juxta-annular transseptal right atrial anchoring, especially in cases of endocarditic anterior mitral annular destruction.

Effect of Rewarming on Leukocyte-Endothelial Interaction After Deep Hypothermic Preservation.

BACKGROUND The preservation of harvested organs plays an essential role in transplantation. Cold hypothermia is frequently applied but may lead to graft compromise resulting from reperfusion and rewarming injury. This study investigates the effect of deep hypothermia and posterior rewarming on leukocyte-endothelial interactions and junctional adhesion molecules.

Contemporary results with the biosynthetic glutaraldehyde denatured ovine collagen graft (Omniflow II) in femoropopliteal position.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of a contemporary series of femoropopliteal bypass operations with the glutaraldehyde denatured polyester mesh-reinforced ovine collagen prosthesis (OCP; Omniflow II [LeMaitre Vascular, Inc, Burlington, Mass]). The experience of two tertiary centers regarding long-term graft function, secondary reinterventions, and biodegeneration of the OCP prosthesis is presented.

Methods: Between January 2006 and January 2014, a series of 205 consecutive operations with the OCP in the femoropopliteal position (54 above knee and 151 below knee) were performed in 194 patients in 202 limbs for disabling claudication (72), chronic critical ischemia (105), acute ischemia (18), popliteal artery aneurysm (4), degeneration of a venous or prosthetic graft (5), and infection of a synthetic bypass graft (1).

The Effect of Ivabradine on the Human Atrial Myocardial Contractility in an Study.

Purpose: Ivabradine has emerged as a new antiarrhythmic agent that could compete with the traditional ones, such as -blockers. This experimental study aims to ascertain whether ivabradine directly interferes with the myocardial contractility in an environment.

Methods: Myocardial tissues from the right atrial appendages of patients undergoing cardiac surgery were dissected to obtain 40 specimens from 20 patients (length: 3 mm), which were exposed to electrical impulses at a frequency of 75 bpm for 30 min to reach a steady state.

[The Future of Vascular Medicine - Role of 3D Printing].

Digitalisation is one of the key challenges in current surgery and will impact the future of surgical care as well as upcoming generations of surgeons. 3D printing is a technology that has recently been transferred from industrial prototyping into cardiovascular medicine. The digital model of the anatomical structure which needs to be engineered represents the inherent link of 3D printing to digital medicine.

Acute heart failure due to giant left atrium: remote ECLS implantation for interhospital transfer and bridging to decision.

Background: Remote extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implantation and mobile ECLS are increasingly applied to enable the treatment of patients with refractory heart failure at specialized care centers. Giant left atrium (GLA) is a rare cause but may lead to acute and devastating heart failure.

Case Report: Acute heart failure that gave rise to a prolonged period of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a patient who underwent remote ECLS implantation was found to have resulted from a GLA of impressive dimensions.

Short- and long-term outcomes for the surgical treatment of acute pulmonary embolism.

Objectives: Acute pulmonary embolism can be a life-threatening condition with a high mortality. The treatment choice is a matter of debate. The early and late outcomes of patients treated with surgical pulmonary embolectomy for acute pulmonary embolism in a single center were analyzed.

Increased Lymphangiogenesis and Lymphangiogenic Growth Factor Expression in Perivascular Adipose Tissue of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Experimental and human autopsy studies have associated adventitial lymphangiogenesis with atherosclerosis. An analysis of perivascular lymphangiogenesis in patients with coronary artery disease is lacking. Here, we examined lymphangiogenesis and its potential regulators in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounding the heart (C-PVAT) and compared it with PVAT of the internal mammary artery (IMA-PVAT).

Complementary Feeding of Sorghum-Based and Corn-Based Fortified Blended Foods Results in Similar Iron, Vitamin A, and Anthropometric Outcomes in the MFFAPP Tanzania Efficacy Study.

Background: Fortified blended foods (FBFs) are micronutrient-fortified food aid products containing cereals and pulses. It has been suggested to reformulate FBFs to include whey protein concentrate, use alternative commodities (e.g.